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July 14, 2009
Toronto Opener
NEWS RELEASE #4
2009 FESTIVAL TO OPEN WITH WORLD PREMIERE OF JON AMIEL’S CREATION
Darwin pic kicks off 10 days of film from around the world
Toronto – The 34th Toronto International Film Festival® opens September 10 with the world premiere Gala Presentation of Creation, directed by Jon Amiel (The Core, Entrapment, The Man Who Knew Too Little). Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the film tells the life story of Charles Darwin starring Paul Bettany (The Da Vinci Code, Wimbledon, A Beautiful Mind) as Darwin and Jennifer Connelly (He’s Just Not That Into You, The Day the Earth Stood Still, A Beautiful Mind) as his wife, Emma.
“The tension between faith and reason is prominent in contemporary culture and this intimate look at Darwin puts a human face on a man whose theory remains controversial to this day,” says Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “We are pleased to open the Festival with such an impassioned look at Charles Darwin, especially on the year marking the 200th anniversary of his birth.”
“We are honoured to open the Festival with Jon Amiel’s latest feature,” says Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. “By telling a story on many levels, weaving scenes from past and present, this depiction of Darwin promises to deeply move audiences by drawing them into the conflicted mind of a man who presented a concept that changed the world.”
Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, part heart-wrenching love story Creation is the story of Charles Darwin. His great, still controversial, book The Origin of Species depicts nature as a battleground. In Creation the battleground is a man’s heart. Torn between his love for his deeply religious wife and his own growing belief in a world where God has no place, Darwin finds himself caught in a struggle between faith and reason, love and truth.
The Darwin we meet in Creation is a young, vibrant father, husband and friend whose mental and physical health gradually buckles under the weight of guilt and grief for a lost child. Ultimately it is the ghost of Annie, his adored 10-year-old daughter, who leads him out of darkness and helps him reconnect with his wife and family. Only then is he able to write the book that changed the world.
Written by John Collee and based on the Randal Keynes biography of Darwin titled Annie’s Box, Creation was co-developed by Recorded Picture Company with BBC Films and the UK Film Council.
Posted by dpoland at July 14, 2009 11:56 AM
Comments
OK, seriously: How long do you think it will take before the Righties start to complain about this movie? I don't mean complain after they see it. I mean complain that it even exists.
Posted by: Joe Leydon ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 14, 2009 12:02 PM
"The 34th Toronto International Film Festival® opens September 10 with the world premiere Gala Presentation of Creation, directed by Jon Amiel (The Core, Entrapment, The Man Who Knew Too Little)."
Not Jon Amiel, the director of the original TV version of "The Singing Detective", as well as the GREAT film "Queen of Hearts"? You know, work that is actually loved by the kinds of people who pay attention to the opening film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It's kind of freaky that on Sunday I was suddenly thinking about "Queen of Hearts" for the first time in about 15 years, and now there's Jon Amiel's name out of nowhere. He had one of the most disappointing slides in directing history, didn't he?
Posted by: Hallick at July 14, 2009 06:21 PM
Joe,
You're too smart for that generalization. Libertarians are on the right...they have no problem with evolution. Catholics have no issue with evolution. The evangelical issue with evolution is just that...an evangelical issue with evolution. It is not tantamount to everyone on "the right".
Also rememember that Darwin's sexual selection theory was right in line with the morally conservative view of sexuality that most world religions have. He did not agree with the modern academic notion that sex was primarily for recreation and that there was no differences between men and women.
The worst fate for this film is that it got the TIFF openning which most everyone in TO knows is the slot that mediocre films go to to die because not everyone is in town yet.
That is why the Egoyan film was not given the slot.
Posted by: Nicol D at July 14, 2009 09:12 PM
"He did not agree with the modern academic notion that sex was primarily for recreation and that there was no differences between men and women."
Joe, this is your fault.
Posted by: jeffmcm at July 14, 2009 09:14 PM
I know you are trying to stir the pot Jeff. But your comment makes no sense.
Posted by: Nicol D at July 14, 2009 09:24 PM
I mean, Joe laid some bait and you fell for it. And then, in falling for it, you produced a statement that sounds, please pardon the expression, totally bonkers.
Posted by: jeffmcm at July 14, 2009 09:26 PM
Please explain oh genius one.
I am all ears in my subordinance to you oh worshipfulness.
Posted by: Nicol D at July 14, 2009 09:29 PM
The Checkered Demon just smiled.
Posted by: Joe Leydon at July 14, 2009 11:12 PM
I should remember this more clearly since it's not that long ago, but how much fuss was there over Kinsey? I vaguely recall some, but I don't remember exactly how much. I can't imagine the right getting real upset about Creation. It does bring to mind the rants of my father-in-law (rabid Rush-loving right-winger who proudly refers to himself as a "right-wing extremist"). He hates Darwin with a passion and makes a comment about him every time I see him. "You can thank Darwin for that." "That's because of evolution." They typically follow a story on the news about something horrific. It always makes me laugh.
Posted by: Stella's Boy at July 15, 2009 02:52 AM
Nicol, even your sarcasm is stilted and disjointed.
You know very well what I'm referring to. And if you don't, then it would be a waste of time for me to explain it.
Posted by: jeffmcm at July 15, 2009 03:16 AM
I was happy to see three Aussie titles announced. Campion's Bright Star, Scott Hicks' The Boys Are Back, with Clive Owen, and Bruce Beresford's Mao's Last Dancer.
I'm sure Samson and Delilah will screen too. If it doesn't then TIFF clearly hasn't got a clue.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at July 15, 2009 03:48 AM
Samson and Delilah had already previously been announced as a festival selection.
Posted by: djk813 at July 15, 2009 11:17 AM
Bruce Beresford? As in "What ever happened to...?" Geez, I mean no offense to the guy, 'cause I've enjoyed several of his films, all the way back to Getting of Wisdom, Puberty Blues, Breaker Morant and, of course, Tender Mercies. Hell, I liked Rich in Love. But, man, who did he piss off?
Posted by: Joe Leydon at July 15, 2009 11:23 AM
Am I the only one bothered by the inclusion of freakin' ghosts in a Darwin bio?
Posted by: frankbooth at July 15, 2009 01:11 PM
Yeah, I was hoping they were metaphoric ghosts.
Posted by: jeffmcm at July 15, 2009 02:17 PM
djk, good to here.
Joe, I know right. After his own "pool movie" (see other thread) Double Jeopardy he must've just gone away and chilled with his money. Although he did make And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself, which was warmly received. Still, nothing quite like Breaker Morant, Black Robe, Don's Party or Tender Mercies in a very long time. Hopefully the adaptation of Mao's Last Dancer is a step in the right direction.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at July 16, 2009 01:35 AM
BRUCE BERESFORD is the POWDER-BLUEST DIRECTOR ever to POWDER BLUE.
He did SILENT FALL with VINTAGE LIV TYLER back when she was COLTISH AND AWESOME, not drowsy and pasty like she is now.
Posted by: LexG at July 16, 2009 03:49 AM
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